Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 2

you ever heard of it?" When we told her we had not so heard, she smile
with chin also, and hold to view small package all of a whiteness.
"These are sealed envelopes," she say. "Each one contains one of the
first seven letters of the English Alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, a letter
for each girl. Miss Sterling, will you be kind enough to give them to the
young ladies?"

It seemed of a purpose that to me came Miss Sterling last. Afterward,
when I so state privately to her, she smile all about and say, "It is most
fortunate that your envelope contains the B, Bing Ding, for being a
Eurasion, you can write the English more fluently than the others." But
that is of Biography unimportant, so I return to where I stop.
Fuku start to open envelope, Miss Powers hold out hand and say, "Wait,
Fuku, and I will tell you about the game. It is played thus:"
"For the next five months, every Saturday each girl must deposit in my
office letter-box an unsigned, written paper of not less than two
hundred English words, on a topic corresponding to the word
represented by the letter found in her envelope. For example: A stands
for the Artist of the class. B - for the Biographer. C - Correspondent. D
- Diarist. E - Essayist. F - Folklorist. G - Genius, to her goes my
heartfelt sympathy." Miss Powers look at Miss Sterling and draw down
corners of mouth and take on sadness. All Chinese girls grow solemnity,
but Miss Sterling laugh, and we know it is of American funniness, and
are much relieved.
"Bing Ding will distribute this writing paper which I wish you to use in
preparing your articles," say Miss Powers, and again hold to view a
package, this time of much largeness and most blue. "Six of you will
begin playing the game this week. A, cannot play until next week; her
name, alone, I must know that I may send her the papers to illustrate
after they are typed."
"On next Monday afternoon and on all the following Mondays, I shall
expect you to come to my study at Two of the clock, to drink tea and
play your game. That is all now, Young Ladies, except that each girl
must keep the secret of her letter; that is for her alone. Good after
noon," and Miss Powers disappear with much graceful carriage, of
which all Chinese girls admire but cannot to imitate.
Miss Powers great lady; of a tallness and much commanding, with
snow hair and bright eyes - at times of a hardness like steel - of them
we have much fear. For Miss Powers we have admiration greatly but
our love we cannot show out to her; only can we show that to Miss

Sterling who is of great dearness, with heart of so great bigness that for
her we take the name of "Mother Heart." Each, to her gather and wish
of her that she may play the new foreign game with us, but she make
explanation that of the letters there are but seven, and soon all Chinese
girl go to herself alone and open her envelope. As I have before spoken,
B, was in mine. A Biographer I have now become. I shall at once at the
Dictionary of the Centuries arrive and study to show forth the meaning
of my word.

When we went forth on the first Monday afternoon to play our game
and drink the tea of our Honored President, the Chrysanthemums were
of great beauty. For many days the gardener had present pots of
Chrysanthemums of great choiceness, so that the walks of the
Compound and the steps leading to Miss Powers' study were of a two
times border; inside part show tiny yellow and white hemispheres,
outside part show much large yellow globes. When I behold
Chrysanthemums to me alone I say, "Can it be English flower-book is
of a rightness? 'That a heart to desolation is now left?' Perhaps the
foreign game we cannot play." and I enter much afraid.
Miss Powers meet us on balcony and invite us in and to take seat; we
have hesitation for Chinese must not at once sit down, but Miss Powers
command, "Be seated, it is the American way." Then she wave hand to
tray on table and say, "Young Ladies, here are your notes; I have had
them put into type that you may not know whose notes you are reading.
Go forward, Cui Ai, and select one to read aloud."
We watch with carefulness Cui Ai open paper and read of Folk-lore. I
look about, but girls' faces all most composed and to me I think, "That
paper is